Autumn is a great time for weekend getaways,but there's always the problem of transporting all that gear for just a fewdays of fun. The solution: You have to know when to fold 'em. USA TODAY testedequipment with the goal of finding a tent, a kayak and a bike that could allfit in the back of a Subaru WRXhatchback.

A wildfire sparked by lightning burned about a mile from homes Friday but posed no immediate danger, officials said. The fire was among a half-dozen started by lightning Thursday in wilderness areas of inland Southern California, where naturally occurring wildfires have scorched vast areas this month. The other new fires went out but crews were concerned as more thunderstorms rolled through the Mojave Desert.

OK, you've been to New York City, you've seen this and done that and been just about everyplace the tourist guides tout. But you may have missed one of its more colorful spots, Brooklyn's Coney Island. And if you keep heading east, past Brooklyn, Queens and the city limits to suburban Long Island, you'll find beautiful beaches and harbor villages.

Three years after Congress moved to prevent another Enron-like corporate blowup, the laws it passed appear to be having unintended consequences. Companies say the laws have made audits much more costly than ever before just as they are struggling to deal with the higher costs of energy, health insurance and materials.

With Mount St. Helens in the news for its puffs of steam and seismic fidgeting, this could be the time to consider a vacation trip to see the volcano and the rest of the stunning scenery that fills southwestern Washington state. Use these Web sites to keep tabs on the volcano and plan your next trip.